Steam and oil separator.



H. J. 'GBBHARDT- l STEAM AND OIL SEPARATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE29,1908.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATENT. GFFICE.

HENRY-VJ. GEBHARDT, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOISr STEAM AND`OIL SEPARATORQSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb'. 9, 1909.`

Application filed July29511908. SeralNo. 445,956.'-

To (zZ-Z whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY-J. GEBHARDT, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Chicago, Cool'county, Illinois, have/in'- vented certainnewv and useful' Improvements in Steam andOil Separators, of Awhich thefollowing is afull, true, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in i means forl separating oil andWater from steam, having special referencev tov improvements inso-called separators of the'classv designed for introduction in exhauststeam pipes and adapted to remove water of condensation and oil from thesteam.l

' The object of my invention is to provide a separator whichshallveifectually'accomplish the separation of oil,v waterandsteam.-

Another object of the'inventionf is to `so improve the construction andthe arrangement of parts comprising the separator as` to materiallyreduce both the size'and costv the casing, to accomplish'an initialvsepara-v tion' and means withinv the'bod-y ofthe casing adjacent to theoutlet for accomplishing a secondary or final separation of' oil andwater'from the' steam.

My inventionalso `consists 1n-=spec1al and various novel constructionsand combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described` and moreparticularly pointed' outl in the claims.

My invention will be more readily l'under- Y stood by reference to-theaccompanying drawings forminga part of this specification and in which;

Figure 1 is an elevationof a steam and oil separator embodying myinvention, a`v

portion being 'broken away to disclose the internal construction of theseparator; Fig.' 2'

is a sectional view on the line X-X of Fig. 1.' My separator'isadaptedfor use inboth vertical and horizontal positions.- In 1 thedrawings it is shown in vertical positionA with alsight glass orgage-attheside of the sep arator an dv parallel with its vertical axis;My horizontall separator differs from the vertical separator `in theparticular that' rthe sight' glass is arranged transversely withlrespectto ther-axisv of-v the' separator. The body or casing ofthe separatorispreferablymade in two1 parts,- A` and B, having flan-ges; 1, andsecured together by bolts, 2. ends of the' casing are provided withilanges,

3 and '4, to receive the 'steam inlet vand outlet The upper 'or' inlet`end or portion', A, of the casing is inthefy form of a'truncated cone,While the flower I partis substantially a cylinder;y Within -theVconnections, 6' and 7.-

part, A, isan' internal cone, a, and between th'e same and the innerwalls,` a', are al plurality of spiral iiightsor Wings,- a2, whichterminate at the apexand the base of the' cone, a.

I preferably'form the parts,- A, wand 1a, in a single casting; whichlenterstheinlet'cavity, a3, at vvthe apex ofthe cone is subdivided intoaf plurality of 'streams bythe spiral wings or 'iii-gms, a2,- and thesteam being deflected thereby is` caused to take on afwhirling, rotaryor spiral motion upon the cone and within the'casing' Obviously therotation of *85 causes the initial separation of yoil and lwater bycentrifugal force, whereby' the: particles ofl oil andwater areprojectedlagainst the# of the separator. the steam'aboutfthe axisof theseparator inner wall, c', of the casing from whence theoil andwaterK'flow-or fall into the lower -parti' It will benotedf also that.the steam passage deiined by the innerandl outer cones, a, A,increases-in=area`toward the juncture with the cylindrical portion of'of the separator.'

the casing, each 'of the spiral passages, a4, be-

tween the flights, a2, increasing inl-capacity toward the base ofth'econe.` It followsthat the 'steam expands'as-it'moves toward the"base of the cone. The'efliect of"tli'efexpan'-l sion of the steam inthis manner is to reduce itsftemperature and increase its Lvelocity;

thereby the'precipitation of oilfland Iwater1isv The expansion' andthedeilec-` tion 'of the steam resultlin 'theprecipitationi of theygreatery portion' of the liquid 'held' in'lvl accelerated.

suspension, by the-time the steam enters the lower or cylindricalportion of the separator.'

As explained the' oil and water condensed 'or' caught upon the-walls 'ofthe'spiral passages falls -or 'flows -into the lower part of the sepalFrom the foregoing it lwillbe evident that" myv 'sep arator possessesthevadvs'intages i rator.

The

The stream of steaml of both impact and expansion steam separators.

The part B of the se arator is substantially cylindrical and ias abottom, 5, which merges into the side Walls, 5', a sharp corner beingavoided. The outlet neck, 4, is centrally arranged and has an extension,52, within the body of the separator. At the upper end of the ortion,52, is an annular ring or flange, 53, w ich closely approaches the innerwall, 51, of the part B. A cylinder or tube, 55, of less diameter thanthe flange or ring, 53, rises therefrom to a point close beneath thebase of the cone, 0,. The space, 511, remaining between the edge of theflange, 53, and the cylinder wall of the separator is sufficient topermit the oil and water to fall into the annular cavity, 57, formedbeneath the ring, but the annular space or opening, 511, is too small topermit any considerable quantity of steam to enter the cavity, 57, andthus the possible expulsion of the liquid therefrom is prevented. Theannular space or opening, 5S, between the upper end of the part, 55, andthe lower end of the part, a, is of preferably slightly greater areathan the inlet opening of the separator and through this the steamescapes from the annular cavity, 59 into the cylindrical or tubularportion, 55, by which it is conducted to the outlet passage, 51, in theparts, 4 and 52. The cross sectional area of the annular cavity, 59, issubstantially the same as the combined area of the s iral passages atthe base of the one, a, and slight expansion of the steam is permittedin the cavity, 511. The steam, therefore, which enters the cavity, 59,in the form of a plurality of whirling streams or currents, tends tomaintain its whirling action downward past the opening, 58, and againstthe inner wall, 54, of the part, B. 'Ihe effect is that the separationof oil and water initiated in the conical portion of the separator iscontinued in the lower part of the separator and the liquid is not onlyprojected but forcibly held upon the walls, 51, of the separator untilit has passed so far below the opening, 58, as to insure its delivery tothe cavity, 57.

With a view to relieving the steam of the small uantity of liquidremaining in it at the time ccf entrace to the tubular portion, 55, ofthe separator, I arrange in said tubular portion a plurality of baiiiesupon which the minute particles of liquid are se arated by force of theimpact therewith. T ese baffles preferably occupy inclined positionswith respect to the axis of the se arator and are of two kinds, 511 and512. T ere may be any number of these baffles. Each baiiie, 511,comprises a ring, 513, having an upturned flange, 511, and containingacentral o ening, 515. The baffle, 511, is oppositely ormed, that is, itcomprises a plate, 516, having an upturned iiange, 517. T ie plate, 516,is joined to the part, 55, by wings, 515,'and is practically surroundedby an opening or passage, 511. Overhangin lianges or ribs, 51, on theiianges, 511 and 517 assist in retaining the liquid on the haines. Itwill now be seen that the baffles provide a tortuous passage within thetubular art, 55; the movement of the steam being tirough the opening,515, of the upper baffle, thence through opening, 519, around thecentrally disposed baffle, 511, and thence to the central opening, 515,of the underlying baffle, 511. The steam is alternately deflected by theplate portions and flanges of the baflies with the result that theparticles of oil and water remaining therein are caused to im inge andcollect upon the baiiies. At the ower end of each baffle I provide anopening or slot, 52, in the art, 55,' and in the part, 55, provide aduct, 511m receive the liquid from the baffles. The duct is plugged atthe top and at the lower end opens into the cavity, 57. A specialadvantage of this construction and of the location of the intermediatesteam outlet, 58, below the cone, is that the steam is at no pointpermitted to cross the paths of the liquid and has there fore noopportunity to reabsorb the same.

As shown in the drawings, I prefer that the lower part, B, of theseparator shall com rise a single casting, the arts, 5, 52, 5, 55, ancthe baffles being integra it is obvious, however, that separators ofvery large sizes ordinarily require the employment of a number ofseparate parts and that sheet metal may be used in the construction ofthe separator. In practice I corrugate the several walls and surfaces ofthe separator, though the same are not so shown herein.

In the manner described above, ractically all of the oil and water isremoved from the steam and collected in the cavity or ocket, 57, and thepurified steam escapes t rough the outlet passages, 510. A drain, c, isprovided at the lower end of the separator beneath the portioncontaining the slots, 510. c represents a waste pipe for connection witha suitable trap or it may be rovided with a simple blow-off valve. Asiglit glass or gage, C, is connected with the drain pipe at its lowerend. The up er end of the gage communicates with the body of theseparator by the passage, c2. This is the form of the gage in a verticalseparator. When the separator is arranged in a horizontal position, theupper' end of the gage is connected with a passage at the then top ofthe separator.

As various modificatlons of my invention will readily suggest themselvesto one skilled in the art, I do not confine the invention to thespecific constructions herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. The hereinbefore described steam and oil separatorcomprising anvelongated casing having steam inlet and outlet openings at its ends, theinlet end of said casing being conical, means in the conical end of thecasing for.

subdividing the stream lof steam into a plurality of expanding spiral.streams to project the steam and liquid against the walls of thecasing, a tubular partarranged .in the casing and or' less diameter thanthe same, providing an annular space into which the steam lows from theinlet end of the casing, said casing containing a liquid pocket or spacecommunicating with said annular space, balles arranged in said tubularpart and said tubular part at one end communicating with said annularspace and at the other end with said outlet, substantially as described.

2. The hereinbeliore described steam and oil separator comprising asubstantially cylindrical casing having a conical end, the latterprovided with a steam admission cavity and the opposite end of thecasing having an outlet duct, in combination with a cone arranged insaid conical part of the casing, spiral iliglits extending between thesame and the Walls of the casing and forming spiral passagescommunicating with said steam admission cavity, a tubular part in saidcasing ol substantially the diameter of the base oi said cone and spacedtherefrom, said tubular part communicating with said outlet duct, andbatlles arranged in said tubular part, substantially as described.

3. A steam and oil separator comprising cylindrical and conical casingportions, the former having an outlet duct and the latter an inletcavity, in combination with spiral flights extending from said inletcavity to the juncture of the conical and cylindrical portions oi' thecasing and forming expanding spiral passages, a tubular part arrangedWithin the cylindrical portion of the casing and of less diameter, saidtubular part being at one end connected with said outlet duct and havingat its opposite end an opening of less diameter than the opening orspace defined by the lower ends of said spiral passages and a ring orflange extending from said tubular part and having at its peripheryopenings to permit the liquid which is collected to flow to the end ofthe casing, substantially as described.

4. A steam and oil separator comprising cylindrical and conical casingportions, the former having an outlet duct at its end and the latterhaving an inlet cavity at its small end, in combination with a cone andspiral flight arranged in said conical portion of the casing, a tubularpart in the cylindrical portion of the casing of less diameter than thesame and of substantially the diameter of the base of the cone, saidtubular part being open to receive steam adjacent to the base of saidcone and at its opposite end connected with said outlet duct and meansdividing the annularY space between theV casing'andithey tubular partinto steam andiliquid spaces, substantiallyy as described.

5.. A steam and oil: separatorcomprising a'.

portion and having an inlet cavity in:y its small end, a` tubularv partconnectedwithl said outlet duct and open at its inner end, said tubularpart being of less diameter than said cylindrical portion of the casing,a plurality ol' inclined baffles in said tubular art having liquiddischarge openings at t ieir lower ends, a flange or ring forming apartial partition in the casing at the base of said tubular part, a conein the conical part of the casing and spiral flights between the sameand the said conical part, substantially as described.

6. A steam separator comprising two members, one thereof beingsubstantially cylindricaland containing a central steam duct open at theinner end, an annular steam space surrounding said central duct and anannular liquid space also surrounding said duct at the end of thecylindrical member, the second memberbeing conical and containing aplurality of expanding spiral steam passages adapted to direct whirlingstreams of steam into said annular space, substantially as described.

7. A steam separator comprising two members, one thereof beingsubstantially cylindrical and containing a central steam duct open atthe inner end, an annular steam space surrounding said central steamduct and an annular liquid space also surrounding said steam duct at theend of the cylindrical member, the second member being conical andcontaining a plurality of expanding spiral steam passages adapted todirect whirling streams of -steam into said annular space, inclinedbali-les arranged in said central duct, and means for delivering theliquid collected by the baflies to said annular space, substantially asdescribed.

S. A steam separator comprising two cast metal parts suitably connected,one of said parts being conical and containing a plurality of expandingspiral passages and an outlet duct connected therewith and alsocontaining annular spaces surrounding said central passages for thereception of steam and liquid from said spiral passages, substantiallyas described.

9. A steam separator comprising a conical portion, A, containing anintegral cone, a, and spiral i'lights, a2, in combination with acylindrical portion, B, containing a tubular part, b5, an outlet ductconnected therewith, inclined baflles in said tubular part and a flangeor partial partition, t3, substantially as described.

l0. In a steam separator, a substantially cylindrical casing having aconical inlet end, "toward the discharge end of said tube, sub- 10 incombination With means forming a plustantially as described.

rality of expanding spiral passages in the In testimony whereof, I havehereunto set conical end of said casing, a tube centrally my hand, thisy20th day of July, 1908, in the C.disposed in said casing and throughwhich l presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

the steam is discharged, a plurality of in- HENRY J.y GEBHARDT. clinedbaffles in said tube and a liquid duct Witnesses: upon the side of saidtube, adapted to re- ARTHUR W. NELsoN,

ceive liquid from said baffles and conduct it I JOHN R. LEFEVRE.

